The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to be phased in from October 2023

Since our last blog on Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), the Home Office has published a fact sheet which provides additional information about the upcoming scheme. 

What is the ETA

The ETA is a digital permission facilitating travel to the UK. However, it does not provide an automatic right to enter the UK, making ETA travellers still subject to immigration control upon arrival.

Who can apply and when?

The ETA scheme is set to launch on 25 October 2023, at that time only for Qatari nationals. They will need to provide an ETA for any travel from 15 November 2023.

Citizens of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia can apply for an ETA from 1 February 2024, and will need to provide an ETA for any travel to the UK from 22 February 2024. 

The scheme is expected to come into full operation by the end of 2024, and will include all visitors who do not require a visitor visa to enter the UK (for example, nationals of Australia, Canada, EU, Japan, New Zealand, and the USA).

How long will the ETA be valid for?

An ETA will be valid for multiple journeys over two years or until the passport the individual used for the application expires. 

How to apply

The Home Office says that the application process will be quick and light-touch. It requires a traveller to pay the fee, provide personal details and a digital photo of themselves, and, finally, answer a set of questions.

Most applicants can expect a response within 3 working days. If the ETA is refused, the traveller will need to apply for a visitor visa to the UK. This application can take several weeks and is quite document-heavy.

How much does it cost?

The Home Office has not released the definitive fee yet, but says it will be comparable to similar schemes in the USA and Australia.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

©Gherson 2023